Follow-Up Test: 2003 Chevrolet Silverado SS; More show than go

[NFS4]

http://www.edmunds.com/new/2003/chevrolet/silverado1500ss/100201187/roadtestarticle.html?articleId=100305&tid=edmunds.h..reviews..5.*

Pretty slow and underpowered for $40,000 "performance" truck.

If I want a fast truck, I'll get a Lightning

 

[fitzhue]

it looks like a pretty nice truck. but what was chevy's thinking behind this truck? if it was to attract some potential svt or srt buyers, then i'd say they failed miserably. i mean 40k for this truck, pfff...no thanks.

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: fitzhue
it looks like a pretty nice truck. but what was chevy's thinking behind this truck? if it was to attract some potential svt or srt buyers, then i'd say they failed miserably. i mean 40k for this truck, pfff...no thanks.

I hope it fails miserably. The Lightning eats it alive and the SRT-10 will destroy it. Hell, even theHarley F-150 models would smoke it

 

[BruceLee]

I like Dodge's piece of work. The minute I saw that thing come down the runway the first time I go this thing is gonna kick some ass. Although a friend of my brother's had a tricked out Lightning that was absolutely killer. That thing handled just about every car on the road, and it sounded so awesome. Those trucks are freakin sweet.

edit: Beat me to the punch by mentioning the SRT-10.

 

[WinkOsmosis]

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: fitzhue
it looks like a pretty nice truck. but what was chevy's thinking behind this truck? if it was to attract some potential svt or srt buyers, then i'd say they failed miserably. i mean 40k for this truck, pfff...no thanks.

I hope it fails miserably. The Lightning eats it alive and the SRT-10 will destroy it. Hell, even the King Ranch and Harley F-150 models would smoke it

There's a King Ranch F-150? I thought that was a badge someone who works at King Range put on it.

FYI, King Ranch was (is) the Wal-Mart of ranches. In the early 20th century and late 19th, they gobbled up smaller ranches, and used the Texas Rangers (Aka King's Rangers) as their henchmen to extort small landowners.

 

[Angrymarshmello]

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: fitzhue
it looks like a pretty nice truck. but what was chevy's thinking behind this truck? if it was to attract some potential svt or srt buyers, then i'd say they failed miserably. i mean 40k for this truck, pfff...no thanks.

I hope it fails miserably. The Lightning eats it alive and the SRT-10 will destroy it. Hell, even the King Ranch and Harley F-150 models would smoke it

King Ranch is an exterior and interior package - it has no interior modifications. (Plus it's exclusive for the HD's for the '04s I believe) The Harley has a detuned L motor and yes, even that beats the SS despite having no AWD. Chevy is smoking something rather hard if they want to challenge Ford for the fastest truck crown.

 

[tcsenter]

The Chevy 454 SS was a big dud, too. You'd thought that Chevy might have learned a few lessons...

 

[LikeLinus]

Originally posted by: Angrymarshmello

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: fitzhue
it looks like a pretty nice truck. but what was chevy's thinking behind this truck? if it was to attract some potential svt or srt buyers, then i'd say they failed miserably. i mean 40k for this truck, pfff...no thanks.

I hope it fails miserably. The Lightning eats it alive and the SRT-10 will destroy it. Hell, even the King Ranch and Harley F-150 models would smoke it

King Ranch is an exterior and interior package - it has no interior modifications. (Plus it's exclusive for the HD's for the '04s I believe) The Harley has a detuned L motor and yes, even that beats the SS despite having no AWD. Chevy is smoking something rather hard if they want to challenge Ford for the fastest truck crown.

Yep. The Harley edition has a 360HP 5.4 vs the 380hp in the L. Still the HD Edition is a bad ass vehicle, but expensive (yet STILL under 40k and has 4 doors).

Needless to say I really think Chevy dropped the ball on this one. No doubt they will sell them, especially to Chevy faithful who want good performance from a truck, but they're getting ripped. Chevy could have done much more with the engine.

Are they going to applogize for this too

 

[440sixpack]

And the L is generally considered underrated as well. I've heard tell of 340+ rwhp on stock engines, so obviously there's more than 380 at the crank.

 

[Cfour]

Originally posted by: NFS4
http://www.edmunds.com/new/2003/chevrolet/silverado1500ss/100201187/roadtestarticle.html?articleId=100305&tid=edmunds.h..reviews..5.*

Pretty slow and underpowered for $40,000 "performance" truck.

If I want a fast truck, I'll get a Lightning

The difference between the SS and the Lightning/SRT-10 is that the SS is a practical car to tow with and use in the winter due to its full-time 4WD.

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: Cfour

Originally posted by: NFS4
http://www.edmunds.com/new/2003/chevrolet/silverado1500ss/100201187/roadtestarticle.html?articleId=100305&tid=edmunds.h..reviews..5.*

Pretty slow and underpowered for $40,000 "performance" truck.

If I want a fast truck, I'll get a Lightning

The difference between the SS and the Lightning/SRT-10 is that the SS is a practical car to tow with and use in the winter due to its full-time 4WD.

"SS" does not stand for practicallity. It stands for balls out power and speed. The Silverado has neither.

 

[Cfour]

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: Cfour

Originally posted by: NFS4
http://www.edmunds.com/new/2003/chevrolet/silverado1500ss/100201187/roadtestarticle.html?articleId=100305&tid=edmunds.h..reviews..5.*

Pretty slow and underpowered for $40,000 "performance" truck.

If I want a fast truck, I'll get a Lightning

The difference between the SS and the Lightning/SRT-10 is that the SS is a practical car to tow with and use in the winter due to its full-time 4WD.

"SS" does not stand for practicallity. It stands for balls out power and speed. The Silverado has neither.

Unfortunately, the SS doesn't stand for much anymore, unless its on the side of a Camaro. I also don't think it's fair to say the SS has no power and speed, especially when its in the 14s, which is pretty quick by anyone's standards. And as for practicality:

A 4.10 rear axle ratio helps the SS to a 7,500-pound tow rating ? less than other GM pickups but considerably more than a Lightning or Harley-Davidson could pull

Not too bad.

 

[Babbles]

GM was smoking something awful with that plan.

I am not much of a Ford guy, but I would take a Lightning any day over that Chevy POS.

Actualy for perhaps more practicality, I really dig the Harley versions.

 

[LeeTJ]

even after all these years, the Lightening is a SWEET SWEET looking vehicle.

looks more like a sports car than a truck, but i guess that's kind of the intent right?

 

[Angrymarshmello]

Originally posted by: 440sixpack
And the L is generally considered underrated as well. I've heard tell of 340+ rwhp on stock engines, so obviously there's more than 380 at the crank.

Not to mention for under a grand you could add almost 100hp and get into the mid 12's without even trying with a Lightning

 

[Tom]

"We happened to have a four-wheel-drive '03 Ram 1500 (with the Hemi V8) around the offices the same week, and the Dodge proved to be the more pleasant companion for a brisk run up a curvy road. "

Cool. I really have to say I'm amazed how nicely my Hemi Ram handles, not to mention it's pretty quick for the money. I'd like to read their full test of the Hemi Ram.

 

[rubenswm]

does this have AC

 

[LAUST]

oh boy "Race Trucks"

 

[440sixpack]

Originally posted by: Dead Parrot Sketch
"We happened to have a four-wheel-drive '03 Ram 1500 (with the Hemi V8) around the offices the same week, and the Dodge proved to be the more pleasant companion for a brisk run up a curvy road. "

Cool. I really have to say I'm amazed how nicely my Hemi Ram handles, not to mention it's pretty quick for the money. I'd like to read their full test of the Hemi Ram.

I approve of your vehicle choice!

 

[JeffreyLebowski]

What's up with GM these days???
Let's get rid of the F-body. Now lets try to unify everything on one platform. Now we'll make an SS out of a 6 cylinder. Ok, time to make a performance truck out of a 4 door. The only thing they could do to make it worse is make it a dually.

 

[Angrymarshmello]

Originally posted by: JeffreyLebowski
What's up with GM these days???
Let's get rid of the F-body. Now lets try to unify everything on one platform. Now we'll make an SS out of a 6 cylinder. Ok, time to make a performance truck out of a 4 door. The only thing they could do to make it worse is make it a dually.

That's actually not a bad idea - more tire/grip on the road would be useful for launching a 400+ hp RWD truck. There are plenty of fast dually diesels running around

 

[LAUST]

and 2 door trucks are WORTHLESS, let alone a "Race" truck, LET ALONE a 2WD!! (3 strikes they suck )

 

[chin311]

that thing sucks. 7 second 0-60?? meh, thats not performance.

40k for that thing? no thx, id rather have a lightning.

 

[chin311]

crap, double post, dang lag, sorry :\

 

[Pacfanweb]

Originally posted by: LAUST

Originally posted by: JeffreyLebowski
What's up with GM these days???
Let's get rid of the F-body. Now lets try to unify everything on one platform. Now we'll make an SS out of a 6 cylinder. Ok, time to make a performance truck out of a 4 door. The only thing they could do to make it worse is make it a dually.

it's a 6 LITER pickle

and 2 door trucks are WORTHLESS, let alone a "Race" truck, LET ALONE a 2WD!! (3 strikes they suck )

Laust, the Chevy truck in the article is AWD. Plus it's an extra cab, so if you consider the SS badge makes it a "race" truck,
then I guess that's only 1 strike.